SAUDI ARABIA: problems found with female staff

LOCAL media reported that the Saudi government’s efforts to ensure that lingerie stores are staffed only by women are causing problems for retailers. Investors claim that more than 40 per cent of stores have closed because they are unable to retain female staff, mainly because separate toilet facilities for women are not available. An official noted that 80 per cent of women leave their job in retailing after a short period of work, often without prior notice. Traders also complained that employing Saudi women cost much more than employing expatriate men.

The labour problems described provide further reasons why online lingerie stores, together with other home shopping channels, should provide ideal shoppîng options for Saudi women and foreign residents.